Patent US6201892B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6201892B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for arithmetic operations for electronic package inspection
Assignee: Omron Microscan Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1998-08-14
•
Granted: 2001-03-13
•
Expires: 2018-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An inspection system and method uses a first illumination apparatus to illuminate one or more features, such as solder balls on an electronic component or other protruding surfaces or features on an object being inspected. Once the object being inspected is illuminated, a first reflected image of the plurality of features is captured by an illumination detection device. The first reflected image is stored in an image buffer. The object being inspected is then illuminated by at least one additional illumination apparatus. Each additional illumination apparatus is selected so that it differs from the other illumination apparatuses in either geometrical arrangement, degree of diffusion or illumination characteristic. An additional reflected image of the object is then captured by the illumination detection device while the object is illuminated by each additional illumination apparatus. Each additional reflected image is also stored in an image buffer. Once at least two reflected images are captured and stored in the image buffer, they are combined by an image processor using at least one arithmetic operation to create a resulting image in which at least one selected feature is enhanced. The enhanced features appearing on the resulting image can then be inspected using additional image processing equipment using standard image analysis techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan Edmund Ludlow
- 👤 Steven Joseph King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; G06T7/0008; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; G01N21/95; G01N21/956; G01N21/95684; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/12; G06V10/14; G06V10/147; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/08; H05K13/081; H05K13/0813; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10016; G06T2207/10141; G06T2207/10152; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features, said system comprising: an illumination detection device for capturing at least a first reflected image and one additional reflected image of said object including said at least one selected feature; a first illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to produce said first reflected image, said first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus; at least one additional illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to provide said at least one additional reflected image, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; and an image processor for combining said first and said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to generate a resulting image wherein said at least one selected feature is enhanced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features, said system comprising: an illumination detection device for capturing at least a first reflected image and one additional reflected image of said object including said at least one selected feature; a first illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to produce said first reflected image, said first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus; at least one additional illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to provide said at least one additional reflected image, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; and an image processor for combining said first and said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to generate a resulting image wherein said at least one selected feature is enhanced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features as claimed in claim 1 further comprising image analysis equipment for analyzing said at least one selected feature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation is selected from the group consisting of addition, multiplication and division.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation comprises at least one logical operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation comprises at least one statistical operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The automated system for inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at leat one arithmetic operation comprises a complex mathematical operation including a combination of mathematical operations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with a first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus to produce a first reflected image of said object; capturing said first reflective image with an illumination detection device; illuminating said object with at least one additional illumination apparatus, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus to produce at least one additional reflected image of said object; capturing said at least one additional reflected image of said object with said illumination detection device; and combining said first reflected image with said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to enhance said selected feature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of inspecting at least one selected feature on an object including a plurality of features comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with a first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus to produce a first reflected image of said object; capturing said first reflective image with an illumination detection device; illuminating said object with at least one additional illumination apparatus, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus to produce at least one additional reflected image of said object; capturing said at least one additional reflected image of said object with said illumination detection device; and combining said first reflected image with said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to enhance said selected feature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of analyzing said resulting image with image analysis equipment to analyze said at least on selected feature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said image capture steps comprise capturing said reflected images with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said image capture steps comprise capturing said reflected images with a line scan camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said illumination detection device is fixed in position with respect to said object while said first and said at least one additional reflected images of said plurality of features on said object are captured.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation is selected from the group consisting of addition, multiplication and division.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation comprises at least one logical operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation comprises at least one statistical operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said at least one arithmetic operation comprises a complex mathematical operation including a combination of mathematical operations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
An automated system for inspecting at least one expected feature on an object including a plurality of features, said system comprising: a first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to produce a first reflected image of said plurality of features on said object; at least one additional illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to provide at least a second reflected image of said plurality of features on said object, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; an illumination detection device for capturing said first reflected image and said at least one additional reflected image; and an image processor for combining said first and said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to generate a resulting image wherein said at least one expected feature is enhanced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
An automated system for inspecting at least one expected feature on an object including a plurality of features, said system comprising: a first illumination apparatus comprising a ring illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to produce a first reflected image of said plurality of features on said object; at least one additional illumination apparatus for illuminating said object to provide at least a second reflected image of said plurality of features on said object, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; an illumination detection device for capturing said first reflected image and said at least one additional reflected image; and an image processor for combining said first and said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to generate a resulting image wherein said at least one expected feature is enhanced.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of inspecting at least one expected feature on an object including a plurality of features comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with a first illumination apparatus to produce a first reflected image of said plurality of features on said object, said first illumination apparatus including a ring illumination apparatus; capturing said first reflective image with an illumination detection device; illuminating said object with at least one additional illumination apparatus, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; capturing said at least one additional reflected image of said object with said illumination detection device; and combining said first reflected image with said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to enhance said expected feature.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of inspecting at least one expected feature on an object including a plurality of features comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with a first illumination apparatus to produce a first reflected image of said plurality of features on said object, said first illumination apparatus including a ring illumination apparatus; capturing said first reflective image with an illumination detection device; illuminating said object with at least one additional illumination apparatus, said at least one additional illumination apparatus comprising an on-axis illumination apparatus; capturing said at least one additional reflected image of said object with said illumination detection device; and combining said first reflected image with said at least one additional reflected image using at least one arithmetic operation to enhance said expected feature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4028728A
Cited
US4688935A
Cited
US4697076A
Cited
US4677473A
Cited
US4695157A
Cited
US4688939A
Cited
US5072127A
Cited
US4972093A
Cited
US4782238A
Cited
US5245671A
Cited
US5051872A
Cited
US5247344A
Cited
US5030008A
Cited
US5039868A
Cited
US4988202A
Cited
US5023916A
Cited
US5058178A
Cited
US5118193A
Cited
US5267217A
Cited
US5440391A
Cited
US5137362A
Cited
US5064291A
Cited
US5166985A
Cited
US5495424A
Cited
US5257714A
Cited
US5598345A
Cited
US5097516A
Cited
US5127727A
Cited
US5533146A
Cited
US5394246A
Cited
US5302836A
Cited
US5461417A
Cited
US5424838A
Cited
US5420689A
Cited
US5406372A
Cited
US5574801A
Cited
US5519496A
Cited
US5418879A
Cited
US5581632A
Cited
US5539485A
Cited
US5604550A
Cited
US5949901A
Cited
US5828449A
Cited
US5926557A
Cited
US5943125A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-09-11 | 2005-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-12 | 2008-09-11 | 2009-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-12 | 2012-09-11 | 2013-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |